Is Alopecia Hair Loss Irreversible?
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Two out of a hundred persons suffer with some form of alopecia hair loss according to various estimates. Some just have small bald patches, others have complete hair loss on the scalp. In extreme cases there can be a total absence of body hair.
This simple fact sheet answers the main questions people have regarding alopecia hair loss:
What’s a good definition of alopecia hair loss?
First let’s get the pronunciation right. The four syllables are pronounced al-oh-PEE-shah with emphasis on the third syllable PEE. A simple definition of alopecia is: “partial or complete hair loss.” The condition is commonly referred to by it’s full title: alopecia areata with additional words describing the severity or area affected:
Multilocularis: Bald spots on various parts of the head
Barbae: Bald patches only on the beard
Totalis: No hair at all on the head and scalp
Universalis: A total absence of body hair
How does a person get Alopecia hair loss?
This condition can affect anyone - male, female, old, young, from all races. There is an indication that heredity can play a part as about one in five who have the condition have relatives who also suffer with it.
The records indicate however that the majority of children who suffer with alopecia did not have parents who had the condition and on the other side, most of the parents with alopecia did not have children who suffered with the condition.
Alopecia hair loss is not contagious. It is classified as an autoimmune diseases meaning the body’s natural defences can turn on itself. In this case, a virus or some other environmental factor, can trigger off the sequence of events which causes white blood cells to attack the cells in the hair follicle which cause hair to grow.
The big question - Will hair grow back?
It’s different in each case. Here is an overview of how a person might be affected:
Even though their is regrowth, the hair may fall out later
The hair loss only affects a few patches, and then grows again for good
Hair may fall out, regrow, fall out, regrow, and so on for many years
In the majority of cases, the hair that regrows is the same color as the hair that was lost
Occasionally, a person might find that the hair that regrows is whitish in color. Eventually however it returns to the color of the original hair
What is the solution for alopecia hair loss?
A variety of drugs are currently used which can have a positive effect on hair growth, although there is no ideal solution at this time. These include:
Minoxidil, also known as Rogaine, is an FDA approved drug which helps combat pattern hair loss in men and women
Corticosteroids - strong drugs used to suppress the immune system
There are various ways of coping with the changes in appearance, depending of course on how severe alopecia hair loss is for an individual. These include using scarves, hats, jewelry, clothing, and cosmetics to camouflage the effects of alopecia hair loss. Additionally, the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (alopeciaareata.com) has a network and message board system putting sufferers in touch with each other where they can exchange ideas and suggestions.
